The Easiest Hair Makeover Ever

I am a frequent sufferer of hair restlessness. I get sick of my style every 15 minutes and want to change it immediately—but not necessarily in a drastic way. My favorite way to do this is to change my part. After recently switching from a center one to a side swoop, I noticed my hair seemed to have more body at the roots, and several people asked if I'd gotten a haircut, because it changed the way certain layers fell. I spoke to hairstylist Kerrie Urban to find out more about how to make the transition as smooth as possible—both figuratively and literally.

If you're growing out bangs, think Bardot.

"For the most part, side bangs can make switching your part tricky. But if they're long enough where you can center-part them and have them fall on both sides, like Brigitte Bardot, that can work on some people," says Urban.

Find the best part for your face shape.

"Center parts can be slimming because they can make your face look longer," says Urban. "But if you have a square jaw, you should avoid it. A side part looks softer."

Bust out the blow-dryer.

"The easiest way to change your part is to just blow-dry it in the direction you want the hair to go. After a few days of doing that, it should start to feel normal," says Urban.

Use a little extra hair spray.

Look for a formula with more hold than you'd normally use, since your hair will need a little extra encouragement to stay in its new position all day long without flopping back over. (Urban likes Ojon Hydrating and Thickening Spray.)

Train your hair while you sleep.

If you're having a particularly difficult time getting your hair to adapt to the new placement, Urban recommends training it while you sleep. Wet your hair, place the part where you want it, and use bobby pins to secure the hair in place on both sides. "Then, in the morning, use a flatiron or curling iron to get rid of any weird kinks that form," she says.

Give it time.

"Some people can switch their parts really easily, and other people have really strong growth patterns that can dictate where their hair splits. If you have really thick, curly hair, you might have to contend with cowlicks, so it might feel awkward at first," says Urban. But stick to the steps above and eventually the new part should start to feel more natural.